The Truth about Head Lice Chemicals & Pesticides

At Lice Busters USA, we offer parents, teachers and other caregivers an pesticide free treatment option for lice removal. Yet, the first door that many parents knock after a head lice scare is their local drug store’s – selecting specially formulated lice removal shampoos.

Do you know what the active ingredient is in OTC lice removal solutions and shampoos? Toxic chemicals and pesticides which are dangerous for continued usage!

Stop and Think – The Real Picture of Head Lice Chemicals and Pesticides

Just how dangerous are these chemicals? Turns out, parents would stop using over the counter lice removal shampoos if they knew what is in the bottle.

In fact, a lot of research has been conducted in regards to effectiveness of lice removal shampoos over the dangers of continued application.

First Line of Treatment – OTC Shampoos Rid or Nix

Typically, the first-line treatment for lice removal is any OTC shampoo. The most popular ones are Rid or Nix… What is so dangerous about a bottle of commercial packaged and approved lice removal shampoo?

Both these products contain pyrethrins, a specific class of toxic compounds. Chemicals in this class are mostly natural but can also be synthesized. What do pyrethrins do?

These chemicals interfere with a louse’s nervous system before killing. Rid and Nix can be found in most pharmacies and also cost about the same however should parents use this treatment?

Second Line of Treatment – Lindane Lice Shampoo

This chemical based lice removal treatment is regarded by professionals in the lice industry as an extremely dangerous treatment.

Additionally, use of Lindane is heavily regulated (even banned) in 52 countries! Desperate parents often pick this treatment after all else has failed but does it really work?

Lindane features a neurotoxin that is absorbed through the skin, posing several serious risks to human health. The chemical negatively affects the:

• Nervous system
• Liver
• Kidneys

What are the side-effects of Lindane? Continued usage of this chemical based treatment poses risk for dryness, rash, a burning sensation, and itching. There are some serious side-effects as well including seizures and even death!

Fun Fact – The company that manufacturers Lindane Shampoo was issued a letter by the FDA, requesting a correction of misleading information on their official websites.

The producers of Lindane and other such chemical based shampoos fail to highlight the real dangers of using these solutions and products for lice removal! In many cases, effectiveness of these shampoos has been over-hyped as well!

So, what have we learnt so far? Continued usage of OTC chemical based lice removal products will harm your child. You will have to use this treatment method more than once, increasing exposure of the active chemicals.

Lice removal should always be conducted through pesticide free means. Manual lice and nit combing is the way to go especially when treating younger children! Visit Miami based Lice Busters USA and avail a 14 day guarantee.